Storing bedding in the linen cupboard

Short answer: Put bedding away clean, give it air, and avoid plastic bags. Bedding that lies airtight for a year comes out with a smell you cannot wash out in one go. A little care when you pack it saves you a lot of work later.

Clean before it is put away

Even bedding that feels clean has traces of sweat and body oil in it. Over the months they turn into yellow stains and a smell that only shows when you open the cupboard again. So always wash bedding before you pack it away, even if it has only been on the bed a short time.

Air around it

Put it in a cupboard with air and not in a closed plastic bag. Cotton bags or open baskets work well, because they let moisture escape. Plastic traps moisture, and then a stuffy smell can appear. See bamboo bedding for sets that are easy to put away.

Dry before packing

Make sure the bedding is completely dry before you put it away. If it is even slightly damp, it can turn musty in a closed cupboard. Leave it to hang an extra day if you are unsure, and do not iron it unless the care label says so. Dry and airy is the rule.

How to keep track

Put a whole set inside its own pillowcase. Then duvet cover, sheet and pillowcase are together, and you do not have to hunt for the parts when you change the bed. It is a small habit that saves time and keeps the sets together. See bamboo sheets and bamboo pillowcases.

Placement in the cupboard

Put the heavy items at the bottom and the light ones on top, so you do not have to pull at the stack. Keep the sets you use most within reach and the seasonal ones further in. Avoid stuffing the cupboard full, because air has to reach around the fabrics, or you lose the point of giving them air.

Against moths and smell

Lavender bags help against moths, but they do not remove a cupboard smell. For that, airing helps more than anything else. Open the cupboard now and then and let it air when you can. If the smell has once gone wrong, it helps to wash the bedding and let it dry outside.

How long it can lie

Bedding can lie for six months without problems if there is air around it. If it lies longer, a smell can appear, and then it should be washed before you use it again. That is completely normal and not a sign that anything is wrong with the fabric.

When it is needed again

If the bedding has lain for more than half a year, wash it before you use it again. That takes dust and smell with it, and the fabric feels fresh against the skin. If it has lain for less time, you can just air it for an hour if it smells clean.